"You know you're going to become a Pokémon Trainer. And then you and I will battle! Of course! You just let me know when you're ready."
"You mean, me battle against you? It's a deal!"
—-Ash and Max
Original Title: End of a Journey, and Then the Start of a Journey!
Original Airdate: September 14, 2006
US Airdate: March 3, 2007
Ash has no more enduring symbol of his many partnerships than his share of the Terracotta Medal.
Ash and May finish their Contest Battle with a draw, and split the Terracotta Medal, so they will always remember their travels together. The twerps part ways once more, with May having her eyes drawn to Johto for more Contest experience, and Brock again returning to Pewter City. Another encounter with Gary draws Ash's interest toward the Sinnoh region, but one of his Pokémon is not interested in letting him get a completely fresh start.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Brick Joke: In "Mean with Envy", Erica fantasizes about winning a Contest Ribbon with Joshua and then sharing the Ribbon with him. Looks like Ash and May had the same idea: tied with each other in the Terracotta Contest, they decide to split the Ribbon they won.
- The Fellowship Has Ended: May and Max return to Hoenn, with May going on to compete in Contests in Johto; and Max going home to work with his father, Norman, at Petalburg Gym. Then Brock and Ash part, though Brock will be back.
- Grand Finale: The final episode of the Advanced Generation series.
- Foreshadowing: Gary's Electivire foreshadows that Paul, Ash's main rival during Diamond & Pearl, will use the Elekid line as his go-to Pokemon.
- Last Episode, New Character: A variation; Gary returns in the episode, making it his first and last appearance in the Advanced series.
- Little Stowaway: Aipom sneaks on the boat to Sinnoh with Ash and Pikachu.
- The Promise: Between Ash and Max, to have a battle once the latter becomes a full-pledged trainer.
- Put on a Bus: Marks the end of May and Max's tenure as main characters as they return to Petalburg City, May however would make a brief return appearance in the DP series and occasional cameos.
- Of course, Ash leaves all his Pokémon with Professor Oak...though Aipom decides to sneak off with him and Pikachu.
- Rule of Symbolism: The Terracotta contest is rife with symbolism that reflects Ash & May being co-protagonists of the Advanced series; they not only use Sceptile and Blaziken, respectively, note , but split the ribbon in half after tying in the battle.
- With a Foot on the Bus: Brock also returns to Pewter City, but this time he'll only be gone for one episode.
- Jessie: First we turn over a new leaf, and now this!
James: Do you think we'll ever learn?
Meowth: I'll let you know next season!
Wobbuffet: WOOOOOBBUFFET!
